Quiz: Howstuffworks

How much do you know about Britain's EastEnders?

Image: BBC

About This Quiz

"EastEnders" is a popular British soap opera that began in the '80s. It has sparked a lot of attention and enthusiasm, both in the U.K. and abroad! Are you an "EastEnders" fan? In this quiz, we'll test your knowledge of this remarkable, dramatic show, and by the end, you'll be free to fly the Union Jack.

In the U.K., on what station is "EastEnders" broadcast?

CNN Britain

The Oxygen Network

BBC One

Sky 2

It is broadcast on BBC One. Reruns appear on other channels as well.

In what year did "EastEnders" begin?

1949

1985

The '60s

2014

In 1985 it got its start, and it's still going strong! How many other TV shows can boast of that?

Where is the show set?

The English countryside

The West End of London

The East End of London

Wales

It takes place in the East End of London, in the fictional town of Walford.

How long is one episode of "EastEnders"?

One hour

Twenty minutes

Thirty minutes

Two hours

They are 30 minutes long, in the short comedy format. That means you can't ever get enough.

Why is "EastEnders" so popular?

It is quite sad

It's mindless television

It tackles taboo issues

It has a lot of naked ladies

"EastEnders" tackles issues that are often taboo for U.K. television, and that gives it its charm!

Walford is a mixture of which two locations​?

Wellington and Hartford

Walthamstow and Stratford

Wales and Grateford

Washington and Balford

Tony Holland, co-creator of the show, was born in Walthamstow. Stratford simply blended with it well, to create a new name. It's a portmanteau.

When was the exterior of the set made?

The '60s

Dates back to the Victorian era

The '40s

1984

Because the set looked so new, they had to distress it to make it look older!

How many scenes does "EastEnders" film each day?

5

150

1

20-30

That's a big schedule! They're just trying to pump it out!

What is true about the trains in the show?

They're timed to run during filming

They carry real passengers

There are no trains

They're created through CGI

Since 2010, all the trains are created through CGI. That saves a lot of money and hassle!

How many people have died on the show since its inception?

5

100

None

1,000

More than 100 folks have died on the show since it began. That's a lot of funerals!

What was "EastEnders" almost called?

East End Drama

Square Dance

London Life

An East End Tale

It was almost called "Square Dance"? We're pretty happy that didn't happen!

Who was married to Cindy, Laura, Mel and Jane (twice)?

Phil Mitchell

Ian Beale

Max Branning

Mick Carter

Ian Beale was married five times on the show. Phil Mitchell comes in second, with four different wives.

Which is true about the pumps in The Vic?

They have real beer

They have water

They have only cranberry juice

They're created by CGI

The have real beer, but the white wine is apple juice. That must be a fun show to work on!

Who almost played Bianca?

Kate Middleton

Kate Beckinsale

Emma Bunton

Victoria Beckham

Baby Spice almost played Bianca! That would have been weird.

How long would it take to watch all the episodes in a state of constant viewing?

One week

One month

One day:)

Four months

Are you up for the task? Seems pretty arduous, but that's 30 years of episodes!

How many characters were originally cast in the series?

5

23

50

100

There were 23 characters, and they had to cast them all in 14 days! That's a casting nightmare!

The "EastEnders" was first set in what era?

Margaret Thatcher's Britain

Tony Blair's Britain

Gordon Brown's Britain

David Cameron's Britain

It was the time of Margaret Thatcher, and it was a complicated time, to say the least.

Which studio is the show filmed at?

Universal Studios

Warner Brothers

BBC Elstree

BBC Florentine

Elstree is where the majority of the show is filmed. It's in Hertfordshire.

In what year was "EastEnders" broadcast live?

1989

1991

2010

2017

They had a live broadcast to honor the 25th anniversary.

What is the name of the public house in Albert Square?

The Queen Victoria Public House

Ye Olde Public House

The Grand Walford Public House

The Lazy Goose

In keeping with the Victoria and Albert theme, the public house is named after Victoria herself.

Since 2012, what has been the scene during the opening sequence of the show?

The Public House

The train station

Olympic Park

The Albert Square florist

It's iconic, and we're happy when it greets us before each episode.

Where does the costume designer procure Dot Cotton's wardrobe?

Chanel

Top Shop

Thrift stores

In the trash

Talk about second-hand! The costume designer was happy about this in terms of her budget, for sure.

Who is the last remaining original cast member?

Danny Dyer

Adam Woodyatt

Rita Simons

June Brown

He plays Ian Beale, and we're glad he's still around! The character is a businessman and a chef.

What was the fake post code of Albert Square?

E20

PA5

GL30

PA90

The show took on this fictitious post code, but then it was used for real when Olympic Park was constructed! They created a whole new post code!

How many pairs of earrings did Pat Butcher have?

Fewer than 10

15

At least 125

What earrings?

It was her signature look, and fans of the show actually sent her earrings through the post!

"EastEnders" is largely about what?

Scandal and divorce

Marriage and infidelity

Relationships and family

War and peace

The show is largely about families, and being a part of a larger community.

What made "EastEnders" unique for its time?

It was funny

It was very British

It had diverse casting

It used only white actors

EastEnders had a diverse cast of Black, Polish, Latvian, Turkish and Asian actors. Ahead of its time!

Who asked people if they had any real EastEnders on their books?

The local police department

The background casting agent

Julie Smith, when talking to agents

The director, on the first day of shooting

The creator, Julie Smith, called agencies and asked expressly for East End actors.

What does Dot Cotton wear each Christmas?

A Mrs. Clause outfit

Reindeer ears

A Christmas sweater

The same red-orange dress

It's actually the most used piece of clothing in the wardrobe department.

When did the Queen and Prince Philip visit the Queen Vic?

1987

1990

Never

2001

Must have been a real honor. And she could even have had a real drink!

What's inside the exterior of the Queen Vic?

A working bar

A dance floor

A green room

Nothing

It's actually empty inside, except for the corner of a bar. The interior of the pub is on another set.

Who yells, “Get outta my pub”?

Roxy Mitchell

Peggy Mitchell

Linda Carter

Ronnie Mitchell

God bless actress Barbara Windsor. She's a show-stopper!

Who started all the fires at the Queen Vic?​

Mick Carter

Max Branning

The Mitchells

Masood Ahmed

They were Grant and Phil, to be exact.

In terms of playing Peggy Mitchell, what is true about Barbara Windsor?

Turned down the role

Was the first choice

Never auditioned

Was the fourth choice

She was the fourth choice?! What would the show have been like without her?

Who is the longest-running female character on the show?

Peggy Mitchell

Dot Cotton

Whitney Dean

Denise Fox

Gotta hand it to June Brown! That's a big acting job.

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